投稿タイプ：activities

Tea farm tour & tasting in Wazuka, Kyoto

Farm tour & tea flight with the passionate founder of d:matcha! Followed by tea-themed lunch overlooking their green fields in Wazuka, Kyoto, Japan. A unique deep dive into the world of Japanese tea.

Their experience runs from 9:30am to 1:15pm, and includes:
・Organic farm tour
・Tea picking → tea tempura
・Educational factory visit
・Tea flight (3 different cultivars of Sencha & Matcha) with sweets
・Lunch at d:matcha cafe (see images for menu)

Important logistics:
Tour begins at our cafe, in Wazuka, Kyoto Prefecture. Most international visitors arrive from Kyoto station (~60 min) or Nara station (~40 min), but you can also reach us from Shiga, Uji, and Osaka.
Daiki Tanaka, their founder, will conduct the tour himself (in English)!
They’re happy to accommodate dietary needs, please let them know of any.

投稿タイプ：activities

Wazuka Town Japanese Tea Tour (Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms)

Enjoy a variety of activities in the town of Wazuka with English-speaking staff and tea plantation owners, including tours of the tea fields and production facilities, tea tasting and production, and tea harvesting events.

投稿タイプ：activities

Tea Brewing Experience (Takumi no Yakata)

Learn how to brew and savor delicious Uji tea while sharing information about the history, production process, and benefits of the three famous types of Japanese tea: gyokuro, matcha, and sencha.
Uji Tea Ceremony Hall Takumi-no Yakata was established by the Chamber of Kyoto Prefecture Tea as a place for training and exchange related to Uji tea for a broad range of people.
Visitors can relax with a cup of delicious Uji tea as they look out over the scenic Uji River.
Also in the neighborhood are the Tale of Genji Museum, as well as Byodo-in Temple and Uji-gami Shrine, both of which have been designated as World Cultural Heritage Sites. Visitors can drop in as they take a walk.

投稿タイプ：activities

Learn Japanese Tea Etiquette (Tea Ceremony, Taihoan)

At Taihoan, a teahouse operated by Uji City, you can enjoy authentic Uji tea with seasonal sweets.
Tea Ceremony Association teachers will prepare tea using traditional methods. Visitors do not have to know anything about tea ceremony to enjoy their experience. (Sencha (typical Japanese tea) tea ceremony days are also held several times a month)

投稿タイプ：activities

Tea Hand-Kneading, Uji Tea-Making on a Ceramic Plate, Matcha Tea-Making with a Stone Mortar (Fukujuen Uji Tea Workshop)

Use a stone mortar to grind tencha, which is the primary ingredient to make powdered matcha tea, and then prepare and drink your own tea.
In addition to a workshop, where you can experience making tea and creating tea utensils, there are also famous tea-ceremony rooms on-site where you can learn the art of Japanese tea ceremony. You can also enjoy tea sweets and tea ceremony cuisine at the old style Japanese restaurant. At the tea shop, you can purchase original Uji green tea and tea utensils. Enjoy everything about Uji's green tea here beside the clear flow of the scenic Uji River.

投稿タイプ：activities

Fukujuen CHA Experience Park

Less than an hour from Kyoto and Uji, the Fukujuen CHA Experience Park is a must for tea lovers. You can take an in-depth look at how tea is grown, harvested, processed, and enjoyed all over the world. Learn about traditional tea cultivation practices and the best way to prepare a wide variety of teas from researchers dedicated to making the perfect cup of tea. Here you can get hands on experience with almost every aspect of tea cultivation and preparation. There is a museum about the history of tea and its many uses, classes on preparing tea leaves, grinding match powder, and techniques for brewing tea. What’s more, they have example tea rooms from around the where you can learn about how people make and enjoy tea all over the world. All this makes the CHA Experience an essential part of any tour of Kyoto’s tea producing region.


・ Introduction to the history and types of tea, manufacturing process, history of Fukujuen, etc. with panels and videos
・ Exhibition of teas that are drunk all over the world
・ Exhibition of Japanese tea manufacturing equipment
・ Tour of tea gardens (visiting tea plants of various varieties in Japan and around the world and tea trees cultivated in greenhouses).

投稿タイプ：activities

Nonohana Plant-Based Dyeing Experience: Dye a one-of-a-kind item with your own hands

At the Nonohana Plant-Based Dyeing ("Kusakizome") Academy in Kyoto Prefecture's Ide-cho, you can try your hand at the "kusakizome" dyeing method. Kusakizome roughly translates to plant-based dyeing, in which, as the name suggests, you use pigments from plants to dye fabric. Seasonal plants are usually used for dyeing, but even the same plant grown in different a soil and climate can change the resulting colors. Kusakizome mostly uses the plants stems or braches to make dye, and flowers are rarely used. The beginners' course is about having fun learning and trying the kasakizome method, in which you cut and boil the plants to make the dye, and use the bokashi dyeing technique (dyeing in layers) to dye a silk shawl, which you can take home on the day of the activity. It's the perfect opportunity to create your very own one-of-a-kind piece.

投稿タイプ：events

Uji River Cormorant Fishing

Enter into the dramatic world of cormorants and fishermen unfolding on the surface of the summer night’s water. Known as a traditional summer event, this practice has a history that goes back to the Heian era (794-1185) and is mentioned in "Konjaku Monogatari" (A collection of tales written during the late Heian era) and "Kagero Nikki" (diary literature written during the Heian era).

Other: Chartered boat fees
10-passenger boat 27,500 yen
15-passenger boat 41,250 yen
20-passenger boat 55,000 yen

Shared boat fares
Adults 2,000 yen
Children 1,000 yen

投稿タイプ：events

TWINKLE JOYO Starlight Pageant

The natural winter scenes and objects illuminated in this event add poetic charm to the season in Joyo City. 600,000 illuminating lights and a 10m tall tree show off the city's wonder.

投稿タイプ：events

Kasagi Canoe School

With 70 canoes, Kasagi Canoe School is Japan's largest.
The school is mainly aimed at beginners, and uses the gentle flow of the center of the Kizugawa River as a slope with which to teach first-timers the basics, after which participants can head down 6km of the river themselves.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Mandoro-yama Viewpoint

Yamashiro Basin developed around Kizu River and flourished as a farming community. It supported and connected the two ancient capitals, Kyoto and Nara. Mandoro-yama Viewpoint, located in Ide Town, offers a stunning view of this area grown with its rich history. You can enjoy a panoramic view extending from Kyoto City, with its iconic Nidec Kyoto Tower, all the way to Osaka, home to Hirakata Park. The beautiful scenery includes Yamashiro-ohashi Bridge, Keihanna Science City, Mt. Ikoma and other mountains.
It’s not only amazing during the day, but also wonderful during twilight hours and at night.
It’s interesting that the name “Mandoro (numerous lanterns)” comes from a procession of torches that looked like many lanterns during a rainmaking ritual.
In this area, there is Teoterasu Ide where you can savor local food and find gifts,
Tama River where you can view cherry blossoms in spring and fireflies in early summer, and more. You can also enjoy seasonal fruit picking and visit historic remains.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Taisho Pond Green Park

You can enjoy outdoor activities at Taisho Pond Green Park. It has bungalows, a camping site where you can pitch your tent anywhere in a designated area or on one of their tent decks, and an auto-camping site where you can easily drive your car directly to your parking space. There is also a barbeque area for those who prefer to enjoy a day trip. In the main house, there is a multipurpose room that is especially suitable for large group accommodations or seminars.
Taisho Pond is surrounded by lush greenery, offering a peaceful retreat with walking paths and a floating pavilion. It is registered as one of the Scenic Assets of Kyoto Prefecture. Just strolling in the park is fun. You can even find a bridge that is said to grant only one wish.
For those who are looking for more adventure, stop by the nearby Mandoro-yama Viewpoint on your way back. You can see Kizu River, Mt. Ikoma and other mountains, Keihanna Science City, Kyoto City, and so on.